Author's Note: Hi guys! Since this story is also finished already, I might as well publish all the chapters at the same time. This is Chapter 6. Beware for some out-of-characters. Please read and leave a review! Thank you very much! :D

Chapter 6: Understandings About Love

The next day, Alice was happy that she had no school for today but she was still saddened by the fact that Ryo likes Rika more than her. But she still prepared for her date with her "Secret Admirer".

"Oh... I just hope that I won't regret this!" Alice said while getting ready.

She wore a black dress. But she was still hesitant to go out. Her parents are not with her because they are both in Odaiba today so she is alone. She went down her stairs.

The doorbell rang and it was Alice's time to go out of her room and house.

"That's the doorbell, Alice McCoy! It's now or never!" Alice thought to herself and spoke up. "I'M COMING!"

Ryo was waiting outside Alice's house. He was nervous about this date because he is afraid to get rejected by the girl he likes.

"Alice…"

When Alice opened the door, she was surprised with what she saw. It was Ryo who was dressed in white sleeved shirt and a pair of black pants.

"Hi, Alice!" Ryo said with a smile because Alice was unaware that he was the one who texted her yesterday night.

Alice was supposed to go out on a date with the "Secret Admirer" so she was confused to why Ryo was here.

"Ryo? What are you doing here?" Alice asked. "And if you came here to hang out, I'm sorry because I'm going to meet that 'Secret Admirer' of mine! Where could he be?"

Ryo began to laugh whole-heartedly. Alice was still oblivious to what he did.

"What's with the laugh, Ryo Akiyama?" Alice asked somehow annoyed because he was stalling her on her first date.

Ryo laughed again. He liked the confused and annoyed face that had befallen on Alice.

"If you won't tell me why you're laughing, I'll send Kazu over to kiss you!" Alice said indignantly.

"Okay! I'm the one who texted you… With that secret admirer thing?" Ryo answered with a laugh. "I used my Dad's phone to ask you out because I'm shy to ask you out in person…"

"Seriously?" Alice said and almost felt infinite happiness inside her. "But why were you searching for Rika's number from me?"

"I wanted to get your idea regarding dates... But she didn't give me an exact answer... So, I was the one who texted you so I can figure out..."

"Ohhh..." Alice said. "This is indeed a misunderstanding..."

With that, her thoughts returned to reality.

"So, what did I hear about your ideal girl…" Alice said. "Kind? Smart? Beautiful?"

"How did you know about that?" Ryo asked, surprised with what he heard.

"Well, I'm sorry if I accidentally heard your conversation with Henry yesterday. That's your ideal girl, right?" Alice confirmed.

"Yes... But no other girl is more ideal to me than you, Alice..." Ryo replied.

Alice just blushed at Ryo's comment about her. But she was brought to reality by the date she was supposed to go to.

"Oh no! What time is it?" she thought and spoke up. "Uhm… Ryo, I have something to tell you…"

"Me too! I have something to tell you!" Ryo declared.

"Ready set go!"

"I like you!" both said in unison.

Both of them blushed because all the time, they had similar feelings for each other.

"You really do like me?" Alice asked to make it sure. "Because I like you too, Ryo!"

"Yes, I like you too..." Ryo said to Alice while looking at her sparkling blue eyes. "You had been in my mind for days already and I can't seem to get you out of it. And then I realized that I like you... Alice, will you go out with me?"

"Of course! I've been waiting for you to ask me that!" Alice said and smiled widely.

"Thanks, Miss McCoy! So, shall we?" Ryo said as he extended his hand to Alice. "I don't want our date to go to waste. Hehe!"

"Sure!" Alice replied with a smile and placed her right hand on Ryo's left.

Then, they left for their date with smiles on their faces.

One week passed and it was an ordinary Wednesday for the tamers. While Henry is in the locker, Ryo came and approached him.

"Henry!" Ryo said.

"Ryo! I got a question for you. Why did you want to get Rika's number in the first place?" Henry inquired.

"Well, Rika knows Alice too well so I tried asking Rika if she knows what Alice's taste in dates. But she didn't give me an exact answer." Ryo recalled.

"So it was Alice who you really like?!" Henry said.

"Yeah." Ryo said.

"Then what happened?" Henry asked, feigning interest.

"I used my dad's number into asking Alice out and go on a date with her." Ryo finished.

"Wow!" Henry mused. "Pretty sneaky!"

"I know! Good thing is that Alice accepted my offer and we had the date last week. And now, we're seeing each other!" Ryo added. "Though it's not obvious, but we really do date each other."

"No way?!" Henry replied, apparently disbelieved. If Rika was with him right now, she too will feel the same.

"It's true, buddy!" Ryo laughed. "I'm dating her already!"

"I can't believe it, Ryo! At least it's not a fangirl you're dating!" Henry said good-naturedly.

"Yeah. I don't really want to date a fangirl. That's the reason why I liked Rika before. Because she treated me as if I'm just a regular person. Not a god or something. Those fangirls? They're just after our appearances!" Ryo stated. "I know what you feel, Henry. Because girls from your grade wanted to get a date with you."

"Yes. I experience that all the time. And I'm glad nobody's running after me because of the fact that I'm the son of one of the creators of Digimon!" Henry chuckled. "And what about Alice?"

"And back to what I'm saying, I liked Alice because, just like Rika, she just considers me a normal human." Ryo concluded. "Anyway, Henry? What about you?"

"Well. I don't know if the girl I like would want to be in a relationship." Henry said simply. "If she wants to, then I'll go for it! Anyway, I wish you and Alice very well! You're meant for each other."

Ryo laughed. "Yeah. And thanks a lot, Henry." he said.

"Anytime!" Henry replied. "See you in lunch!"

"Sure!" Ryo returned back.

That very moment, Rika saw Alice sitting in a bench alone.

"So, Alice? How's that 'Ryo thing' going?" Rika asked.

"Well, it's good. We're currently seeing each other now." Alice explained with a smile.

"Wow! We just got many holidays and you two are now dating?!" Rika exclaimed with wide eyes.

"Yes." Alice chuckled. "It's a long story but our first date last week was fantastic!"

"Oh right! Ryo asked me what you want when it comes to those things!" Rika chuckled.

"So that must be the reason why he wants to obtain your number from me!" Alice said.

"Yeah." Rika said.

"Thank you, Rika!" Alice said in threw her arms around the auburn-haired girl.

"What for?!" Rika asked.

"For telling me that I know what to do!" Alice explained.

"Oh... Yeah! No problem!" Rika said.

"How come Jeri's not with you?" Alice asked.

"She's now with her boyfriend, Takato." Rika replied. "Those two are the most lovesick couples that I ever met. Save for you and Ryo, of course. Nowadays, I'm always with Henry. But I also go with Jeri either way."

"Ooooh! Henry and Rika! That sounds too promising!" Alice teased. "What if you and him got together?"

Rika became silent. "Dream come true." she eventually spoke up. "I don't know. We're just best friends!"

"True. But sometimes or maybe oftentimes, friends end up being lovers as well!" Alice pointed out.

"That's different on my case, Alice." Rika chuckled.

"Well, think about it, Ri." Alice smiled. "Gotta go now! See you!"

"For a while. Hey! Aren't we going to Math class together?" Rika sneered.

"Oh! Sorry!" Alice added.

Then the two girls went inside the classroom.

When classes ended, Rika was alone when she went out of her classroom. She could not believe that her plans with Jeri were cancelled at the last minute because she is going with Takato now.

"This is stupid! First, Dianne! Second, Jeri! It's so irritating! Do they really understand the feeling of a friend being left alone because of them having boyfriends?" Rika thought sullenly.

She wanted to curse but she could not do so because she is in a public place. Until, she bumped into someone while walking. Because she is currently in a high-blood state, harsh words came out from her mouth.

"Watch where you going, idiot!" Rika said angrily.

When she looked to see who she bumped, it turned out that it was Henry! She is annoyed with herself now.

"Oh crap!" Rika thought. She wanted to smack herself mentally for snapping at her best friend like that

"Ri? Are you alright?" Henry asked with concern. He did not know why Rika had become mad at him.

"Y-Yeah! I-I'm fine!" Rika replied. "Sorry for what I said earlier."

"You sounded harsh a couple of minutes ago. Is there a problem?" Henry pointed out.

Rika shook her head. If she tells Henry why, he might laugh at her because of the petty reason why she is mad.

"Ri, tell me. There's nothing good in bottling feelings, you know?" Henry assured.

"You won't laugh at me?" Rika asked.

"If that's what it is, I won't laugh." Henry replied.

Rika took a deep breath so she could easily tell Henry about it.

"Fine..." Rika said.

"You want to sit down?" Henry offered.

"No. I'm fine. Thank you. You want me to tell or what?" Rika said.

"Sure... Carry on..." Henry urged Rika to continue.

"Jeri and I had plans for today's afternoon. She even told me that I will be her only companion. BUT NO! She cancelled it because she is going on a date with Takato. Right after she and Takato got together, I felt that I'm no longer her best friend. Takato seems to be Jeri's only world even though they've been together for a week. I felt that I'm no longer her friend. I couldn't bring myself to tell Jeri about it, since I should be happy for her, right?" Rika explained.

Henry understood what Rika felt right now. Takato is doing the same thing to him. He felt that he was just a display so he resulted to hanging out or talking to Ryo as well during school days.

"I know you're happy but sometimes they take it overly. It went to the point that they cannot separate from each other though they're together for only three days." Henry assured.

"I know... Sometimes, I wish there's a cure for love... So that they'll realize what they are really missing!" Rika said with feigning bitterness in her tone.

"HAHAHA! I agree to that!" Henry replied.

"What about you, Henry? If you are going to have a girlfriend, are you going to leave me alone just like them?" Rika asked.

Henry smiled with what Rika said to him. Even though he secretly likes Rika, he knows that he will never leave her alone.

"I'm not going to leave you anywhere, Rika. You're my best friend and you're my confidante. And on second thought, if I get a girlfriend, I'll make sure that you'll have a boyfriend... So that, it'll be a win-win situation!" Henry said good-naturedly. "But deep inside, I wish you were mine..."

Rika laughed with Henry's facial expression. His jokes are very comical and entertaining for her and also they are in a way that she can laugh easily.

"Thanks, Henry! At least, you're always there for me... And I'm so happy that you are the Henry Wong that I knew since we're 12... Honest, kind, understanding and most of all, loyal!" Rika said and punched Henry slightly in the arm. "I hope that you won't change..."

"You're welcome, Digimon Queen! Do you think those four adjectives describe me?" Henry said.

"Of course! Well, your only flaws seem to be taking compliments..." Rika said while chuckling. "But I don't mind… Sometimes it's hard to fight positive comments…"

"Don't worry, Rika!" Henry assured and patted Rika's arm. "I'll be right here with you... no matter what!"

Rika blushed at Henry's move especially that she felt warm with his hand over her arm.

"So, are you game for sundae?" Henry offered.

"Okay!" Rika accepted. "Your treat?!"

"Uh... Yeah..."

"Come on! Let's go!" Rika said while pulling Henry along with her.

Then they walked together so they could reach the ice cream shop on time.

~ I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again
Lucky we're in love in every way
Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed
Lucky to be coming home someday ~

Henry and Rika are in the ice cream shop once again.

"So, Rika, are you still mad?" Henry asked.

"Nope. I'm not mad. Just disappointed." Rika answered.

"We both do. But this is also our fault why they got together, right?" Henry chuckled.

"Yes. I know. We set them up." Rika said. "This is the consequence."

After a few seconds, Rika's phone rang. When Rika grasped her phone, she saw that it was Mrs. Nonaka.

"Sweety!" Mrs. Nonaka said from the other line.

"Mom! What's up?" Rika asked.

"I'm just reminding you that Grandma and I won't be around for dinner. You can eat dinner somewhere else." Mrs. Nonaka said.

"Okay! Anything else?" Rika asked.

"Just tell me where you are and I'll pick you up there." Mrs. Nonaka continued.

"Okay, Mom. Just send Grandma my hellos." Rika answered dully. She remembered that her guardians will not be at home for dinner.

"Okay! Bye, Rika!" Mrs. Nonaka said.

When Rika hung up the phone, she was thinking where she would spend dinner.

"Who's that?" Henry asked.

"My mother. She told me that she won't be home for dinner along with Grandma. Unfortunately, I don't know where I can go." Rika explained.

"You can stay for dinner at my house!" Henry said. "I'm sure my parents won't mind…"

"Okay. It's worth a try!" Rika said. "Are you done with your sundae?"

"Yup! I am!" Henry answered. "But it's only 5:00…"

"Yeah. Too early to go home." Rika said dully. "But then again, it's boring here…"

"Let's go to my house so you can talk to Suzie!" Henry offered. "Besides, Suzie's been asking questions about you since you transferred to our school!"

Rika eventually laughed. "Fine! Let's go!"

Then the two friends went out of the shop and headed home.

Henry and Rika are making their way towards the Wong residence. It happened that they saw Mr. Wong's car traveling the road while they were walking. They recognized the voices when they heard them call Henry from the inside.

"Henry!" Mr. Wong said.

"Dad!" Henry said.

"You guys need a lift?" Mrs. Wong offered.

"Yes, Mom." Henry said and opened the car door so Rika could get in. He also saw Suzie inside.

"Henwy!" Suzie exclaimed. "Wika!"

"Hey, Suzie!" Rika said.

"Wika! It's good to see you again!" Suzie said and gave Rika a hug.

"Mom, is it okay if Rika will have dinner with us?" Henry spoke up.

"Certainly and I don't mind having an extra person at the table!" Mrs. Wong said pleasantly.

"Thanks, Mrs. Wong!" Rika said to Henry's mother. "Thanks too, Henry!"

"Sure!" Henry smiled.

They relaxed as they travel through the streets of Shinjuku.

After thirty minutes, they arrived at the Wongs' apartment complex. Mrs. Wong was the first to get out and she got followed by Henry, Rika and Suzie.

"Suzie, do you miss Lopmon?" Rika asked.

"Some sowt of… Henwy dwew me a pictuwe of Lopmon so that I could always wemembew hew…" Suzie replied.

"Can I have a drawing of Renamon?" Rika teased.

"You'll have to pay… Since you're not my sister!" Henry grinned.

"I'm going to pay!" Rika answered.

"I'm just kidding!" Henry said.

Then the two of them sat on the couch with Suzie just beside them.

"Oh Wika! I'm happy that you'we joining us fow dinnew!" Suzie said.

"Me too!" Rika smiled. "I don't know why I'm feeling like this but I think it's fun having a sister like Suzie…"

Mrs. Wong went to the couch. "Is it alright if all of you will have an early dinner? It's only 5:35, anyway and probably the fish will be cooked at six…" she said.

"No problem, Mrs. Wong!" Rika said pleasantly. Her courtesy was only used when she is talking to adults.

Once Mrs. Wong was gone, Henry turned the television on while Rika called her mother to inform where she is right now.

"It's a good thing my mom's not away because she's in a fashion show or something…" Rika said when she returned to the couch. "The last time I spent dinner at somebody else's house, she was a judge at a fashion show and had my grandmother as audience! Good thing is that Jeri was around when she called me!"

"Oh. You don't want to follow her footsteps?" Henry asked.

"I don't want to. Fashion's not my life." Rika replied. "Digimon is."

"Right! So that's why you're the Digimon Queen!" Henry chuckled.

Rika pinched Henry's arm playfully. "HEY!"

Suzie just watched her brother and Rika enjoying each other's company. She concluded that Rika is just the only girl her brother is close to since he never did that kind of thing to any other girl.

Mrs. Wong eventually went to Rika and said. "How's your mother and grandmother?"

"They're good. They just fly to and fro Kyoto to visit relatives." Rika answered.

Mrs. Wong just nodded. "The last time I talked to your mother was the time you, Henry and Takato are wandering on the street because of that red thing." she said.

"The D-Reaper?" Henry added.

"Yes!" Mrs. Wong said in reply.

Rika nodded. "Well, I'll send her regards. She'll drop by here because she'll pick me up here." she said.

Afterwards, Mrs. Wong returned to the kitchen and took out the fish that she cooked. She called Henry, Rika, Suzie and Mr. Wong. The Wongs and Rika eventually assembled in the table and ate.

After several minutes, they finished up and piled the dishes in the sink. Henry, Rika and Suzie watched a movie while Rika is waiting for her mother to pick her up. They were watching 17 Again since they also have a watching ten-year-old.

"Good thing you don't have homeworks, Suzie!" Rika told Suzie.

"I know! My teachews didn't pile us with them!" Suzie commented.

Henry and Rika were glancing at each other while secretly hoping that they will not be caught by each other. Then, an hour later, the movie was finished and Henry removed the CD from the player. At the same time, they heard the doorbell ring.

Mrs. Wong went to the door and opened it. She found Mrs. Nonaka on the doorstep.

"Rumiko!" Mrs. Wong exclaimed.

"Hello, Mayumi!" Mrs. Nonaka said. "Is Rika here? Also, I wanted to thank you for accommodating Rika."

"Oh, no worries, Rumiko! About Rika? She's here!" Mrs. Wong said. "Rika, your mother's here!"

Rika instantly gazed at the doorway. She saw her mother already.

"Okay, Henry. I gotta go. Mom's picking me up now!" Rika said. "By the way, thanks for everything!"

"Sure! Take care and I'll see you tomorrow!" Henry said with a smile.

Rika went out of the door and joined her mother in going home.

That same moment, Takato and Jeri are engaged in another phone call. Right after they finished talking about themselves, they hit a particular subject that was close to their lives.

"Takato, what do you think of Henry and Rika?" Jeri said from the other line.

"They're best friends, right? Just like what they claim and seem?" Takato asked.

"Yeah, Takato… They're best friends… But they don't look like best friends…" Jeri commented.

"What do you mean?" Takato asked.

"They're always inseparable! They would only separate whenever they go home. I think that there must be something between the two." Jeri said. "And judging with their consistent company with each other, they always find enjoyment in each other…"

"I agree… They're happy with each other…" Takato explained.

"This is our fault…" Jeri said.

"Why though, Jeri?"

"Ever since we got together, we're always with each other. That's why they always go with each other."

"HAHA! I noticed that…"

"But I get a hint that they're just more than friends… When they trick each other or tell something to one another, they find themselves amused with each other!" Jeri explained.

"I know. I haven't told this to you. When we were grouped during history… The paired activity? Henry looked happy when he learned that his partner is Rika." Takato said.

"Aww! They really are a couple!" Jeri said dreamily. "But, let's just wait for it. For sure, there's a spark!"

"I know, Jeri. At least, there'll be a chance that they could be more than friends!" Takato concluded.

"Oh. Anyway, Takato. I'd better go. I still have to sleep and see you tomorrow. Bye!"

"Okay! Bye! See you!" Takato said and with that, he hung up the phone.